George Vincent will join The Kroger Co. as its secretary and general counsel, effective Aug. 4.
Vincent has been appointed to the role, following the retirement of EVP, General Counsel and Secretary Christine Wheatley on Sept. 1.
A partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, Vincent previously served as the firm’s managing partner from 2007-22, where he oversaw significant expansion and led many of the firm’s strategic efforts. He also served as chairman of the firm’s first board of directors. In that role, Vincent oversaw more than 750 lawyers who are licensed in 35 states and the District of Columbia and who supported clients across the U.S. facing complex legal challenges.
“George is a widely respected attorney and a trusted advisor to a wide range of companies and boards of directors,” said Ron Sargent, chairman and CEO of Kroger. “He has decades of experience helping businesses grow and managing complex regulatory environments. We look forward to welcoming George to the Kroger family.”
Vincent has counseled national and international businesses on strategic growth and is a well-regarded leader in the legal community. He has earned “Best Lawyers” distinctions multiple times and was named to “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” for about 20 years. Vincent has served as board chair for various civic and business organizations, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati Museum Center and Cincinnati Art Museum.
Christine Wheatley
Wheatley joined Kroger in 2008 and has served as general counsel and secretary since 2014.
During her time at the company, she served as a senior advisor on the Kroger leadership team, as secretary for the company’s board of directors and has been responsible for the company’s legal and compliance function.
“We want to thank Christine for her many years of dedicated service,” Sargent said.
“Christine has been a passionate advocate for our associates and provided outstanding guidance for our leadership team throughout the years. We wish Christine and her husband Bryan and their family well on this next chapter.”
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